Creating Character Emotions: Anger #2-3

English: Robert Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions (Photo credit: Wikipedia)English: Emotions associated with anger (Photo credit: Wikipedia)The first exercise in "Creating Character Emotions" ch. Anger was interesting, the other two less so. For exercise 2 we had to write a paragraph in which a character talks about one emotion but conveys another. The third exercise perplexed me, we had to write the 10 degrees of anger. Basically, we had to pick 10 synonyms of anger, hate, and contentment and list them from mildest to strongest.

Anger #2

“I sit here alone, waiting for you to return. I don’t know why you left. I want you to come back, but I know you won’t. Yet, even though I know that, I still wait for you. I feel as if I m shut out of life. As if, everything good and bright is gone. I sit here alone.”

Anger #3

Anger=Vex=Annoy=Aggravate=Provoke=Offend=Affront=Injury=Wrong=Enrage

Hate=Disgust=Loathing=Repugnance=Repulsion=Revulsion=Horror=Dismay=Odium=Abhorance

Contentment=Pleased=Gratified=Satisfied=Fulfilled=Appreciation=Enjoyment=Delight=Joy=Happiness

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Creating Character Emotions: Anger

English: Emotions (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am working on being a better writer. Right now I am making my way through the book: . Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood. The book contains three exercises for a wide variety of emotions starting with Anger and ending in Worry. My plan is to post my exercises.

For the very first exercise, I had to write a conversation between two characters that begins with the line “Actually, this isn’t my first pregnancy. I gave a baby away for adoption ten years ago when I was in art school.” The person who hears this line has to go through three different emotions, anger doesn't necessarily have to be one.

Anger #1

            “Actually, this isn’t my first pregnancy. I gave a baby away for adoption ten years ago when I was in art school.” Marissa said to Molly. Molly paused carefully picking her way through that statement.

            “You went to art school?” Molly said attaching herself to the least shocking part of Marissa’s statement. Molly wasn’t sure, how she felt about Marissa statement. She was just Marissa’s coworker, and she did not want to know such personal information. She had tried to be friendly to the new girl and had asked after the baby, only to be hit with that.

            “Yes, it was a bit of a phase. College seemed intimidating and I didn’t want to get a job. So, I convinced my parents I was an aspiring artist. I hadn’t anticipated how much effort it was going to be. That’s why I got into trouble with that teacher and wound up pregnant.” There it was again. Was Marissa deliberately trying to provoke her? Molly took a deep breath.

            “Not to be rude or nothing, but I would rather not know about that kid you gave away.” Molly said as she looked towards the clock.

            “Fine,” Marissa snapped and she stood up. Molly could hear the irritation with a tinge of hurt in Marissa voice. Molly huffed to herself as Marissa stomped out of the break room. Molly could feel her lips twisting into a grim smile.

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Zombie Tarot: The Emperor

The Emperor is the Father of the deck. He is warlike and has clear opinions on issues. Where the Empress is emotional and feminine, the Emperor is physical and masculine. In the zombie tarot, George Romero is the Emperor. As the father of modern zombie movies he seemed like a natural choice for the Emperor.

The Emperor sits in a director's chair. He is the master of all he surveys as he seeks to make his vision a reality. He is an old man who has seen much but he is still powerful.

Upright, The Emperor stands for power and fatherhood. He provides order and stability in chaotic situations.

Reversed, The Emperor is inflexible. He can not change and only seeks to recreate what made him powerful.

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Zombie Tarot: The Empress

Image via WikipediaThe Empress is the mother of the tarot. She is an example of all the potential a woman can have. While The Priestess is the thoughtful aspects of womanhood, the Empress is the emotional. In the Zombie Tarot, she is Lori Grimes from the comic book The Walking Dead.

The Empress sits in an abandoned campsite in the woods. In the woods are zombies but she is not concerned for she is powerful in her own right. She holds the keys to life and death and upon her head is a crown. Her kingdom may have fallen but she will survive.

Upright, The Empress stands for life and love. Even when surrounded by Zombies she shows that there is still something worth living for.

Reversed, The Empress suffers from anxiety. She is afraid for her loved ones and this can turn into unhealthy obsessions. Her emotions can lead her to betray them.

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Zombie Tarot: The High Priestess

Image via Wikipedia













The High Priestess is the third tarot card. Her number is 2 and she represents wisdom. She has a somewhat restrained femininity and prefers to slay zombies using her hard earned skills. In the Zombie Tarot she is Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

The High Priestess stands ready for a fight in a stately Victorian home. It is night outside her home but inside is brightly lit. Near her is her father's study which contains many volumes concerning the mystery of the zombie menace. She is dressed in a light blue gown but she won't let it impede her in her fight. She has spent grueling years training and gathering knowledge of how to fight the zombie hoard. She is justifiably proud of her skills.

Upright, The High Priestess stands for wisdom. She knows how to fight the zombies and is willing to teach others providing they are worthy of her instruction.

Reversed, The High Priestess is judgmental and she can be overconfident. Both of these traits can lead her into errors regarding her fellow survivors.

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Zombie Tarot: The Magician

Image by ξωαŋ ThΦt via FlickrThe Magician is the second card in the major arcana but his number is 1. Number 1 is how he thinks of himself. He is proud and self-sufficient. He is the jack of all trades. He is skilled at using all sorts of weapons. In the Zombie Tarot he is akin to Tallahassee in Zombieland.

The Magician stands alone. He is outdoors and he stands by a truck. In the bed of the truck are the tools of his trade, a sword (Swords), a bat (Wands), a zombie skull (Cups), and a riot shield (Pentacles). On his head is a helmet with the infinity symbol on it, to show that life and hope are eternal.

Upright, The Magician stands for creativity. He knows that you can turn just about anything into a zombie killing weapon. He has confidence in his own abilities, and even though he might seem reluctant, he will help those he considers his friends. He is willing to do anything to survive.

Reversed, The Magician is arrogant and does not suffer fools lightly. This makes him despised by others. Since he is not well liked he is the most likely to be abandoned when the worst happens. He is also the most likely to abandon the others in favor of his own survival, this can backfire and leave him without help when he most needs it.

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Zombie Tarot: The Fool

Image by Donna L. Faber via Flickr











I had an idea for a zombie tarot but to be honest I can't draw, so I thought I would write out the concepts for each card anyways.

The Fool

Some say that The Fool is the key card of the tarot deck, and that the tarot is really the story of his journey. This works really well for a Zombie Tarot. The Fool is someone who does not yet know that the zombie apocalypse has happened. He is like Shaun from Shaun of The Dead.

The Fool stands on a cliff, or perhaps the roof of a high rise, looking at the sun and is oblivious to the danger that surrounds him. Nipping at his feet is a zombie dog. Little does the Fool know that he has the key to his survival in the pack that he carries.

Upright, the Fool represents the kind of innocence that will save him from the initial outbreak. The Fool has a knack for gathering allies who will help him. He is the kind of person who will try anything and therefore is more likely to figure out how to kill the zombies.

Reversed, the Fool relies on a kind a of dumb luck that can only get him so far. The Fool makes poor decisions which can lead to his allies or himself being turned into zombies. He will try to find places, like a pub, to hide in which will only turn into a deathtrap.

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